Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) Series

The Toledo
Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) Series explores the relationship
qualities and the subjective meanings that motivate adolescent
behavior. More specifically, this series seeks to examine the nature
and meaning of adolescent relationship experiences (e.g. with family,
peers, and dating partners) in an effort to discover how experiences
associated with age, gender, race, and ethnicity influence the meaning
of dating relationships. The series further investigates the relative
impact of dating partners and peers on sexual behavior and
contraceptive practices, as well as involvement in other problem
behaviors that can contribute independently to sexual risk-taking.
The longitudinal design of the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) includes a schedule of follow-up interviews occurring one, three, and five years after the initial interview. Four prior waves of data have been collected (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006). Data were collected from adolescent respondents through structured in-home interviews utilizing laptop computers.
In addition, the fifth wave, conducted in 2011 when the participants were young adults, builds on prior waves by adding quantitative and qualitative assessments of intimate partner violence (IPV).